On Thursday, the ISIL terrorists seized Bakhdida town, also known as Qaraqosh, in Iraq’s northern province of Nineveh following the retreat of Kurdish troops from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, who had been protecting the area for the past two months.

The terrorists also took control of Tal Keef, Bartella and Karamlesh, all located near the militant-held city of Mosul.

Christian patriarchs say the ISIL militants removed church crosses and burned manuscripts there.

An estimated 100,000 Christians have been forced to flee from Nineveh Province into the Kurdistan region.

“Most of the displaced are now living in the open and face the threat of death because of scorching heat and lack of water and food,” said Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, adding, “It is a humanitarian disaster.”

Pope Francis has called on world governments to take measures to protect Christians in Iraq.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting, requested by France, later in the day to discuss the situation in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the ISIL militants seized the country’s largest dam near the city of Mosul after a week of fighting against Kurdish forces. The militants are now in control of huge power and water resources and have access to the river that runs through the capital, Baghdad.

The militant group posted a statement online, confirming the seizure of the dam and promising to continue “the march in all directions.” The ISIL cult also claimed that it would not “give up the great Caliphate project.”

UN also said that some 40,000 Iraqis from the Kurdish minority Yazidi have reportedly taken refuge in nine different locations on Mount Sinjar in northwest Iraq.

Violence erupted in Iraq when ISIL Takfiri militants took control of Mosul on June 10, which was followed by the takeover of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad.